The Licensing & Regulatory Committee of Northumberland Council was scheduled to receive an update on licensing activities and policy development. The meeting's agenda included a review of licences determined in the third quarter of the financial year and an update on ongoing policy work.

Quarterly Activity Update

The committee was scheduled to receive a report detailing licensing activities undertaken by subcommittees and delegated officers during the third quarter of the financial year. This report, titled Quarterly Activity Update Quarterly Activity Update, also provided an update on policy development work.

The report indicated that Northumberland County Council has a statutory duty to administer and enforce various licensing schemes within its area. The committee's responsibilities encompass oversight of licensing matters for a range of business sectors, including animal boarding, street trading, tattooists, and taxi and private hire services.

The Quarterly Activity Update report included appendices detailing specific licensing data. Appendix 1a provided a breakdown of licensable activities for October to December 2025, covering areas such as Hackney carriages and private hire vehicles, animal activity licensing, and other categories like caravan sites, street trading, and body modification premises. Appendix 1b offered zone information for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing as of December 2025, detailing the distribution of Hackney Carriage Drivers, Hackney Carriage Vehicles, and Private Hire Operators across different areas of Northumberland.

The report also highlighted that the committee had resolved at its October 2025 meeting to establish a working group to develop the Authority's licensing policy for taxis and private hire activities. This working group, comprising Councillors Cessford (Chair), Amery, Bowman, Brooke, FitzGerald, Oakley, and Smith, with Councillor Stewart attending as an observer, had met for the first time on 20 January 2026. They had agreed on a framework for their work plan, which would address driver standards, vehicle standards, and other related matters. The working group is expected to consider the national and local context of the licensing scheme, develop a work plan, engage with subject matter experts, and regularly report progress to the committee.

The committee was recommended to consider and note the information contained within the Quarterly Activity Update report.